New drinking water source in Dona Bay cleanup plan

Published: Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at 8:46 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at 8:46 p.m.

SARASOTA COUNTY - An ambitious plan to improve the ecosystem in Dona Bay and eventually create a massive drinking water source appears to be taking shape at last.

Decades ago, water from Cow Pen Slough that once flowed into wetlands was diverted by farmers to empty into Dona Bay near Nokomis. The freshwater and nutrients in the water have hurt the fragile ecosystem in saltwater Dona Bay.

The new plan involves improving an aging dam structure that is in need of repair and adding to a system of conveyances. This would allow some of the Cow Pen Slough water to flow into the surrounding land and into old borrow pits from mining days.

More water will be diverted through a pipe to the large former Venice Minerals pit, where it will be treated to reduce pollution. Up to 10,000 pounds of nitrogen and phosphorus could be removed from the water each year using this approach, officials said.

The plans drew withering criticism from county commissioners in September, who said they were confused about how the project’s goals would be accomplished.

On Wednesday, county staff’s presentation was more easily digestible for commissioners, who unanimously approved an additional $600,000 to the engineering firm Kimley-Horn and Associates for design work.

The plan to fix the problem first came about in 2007, when the building boom led to worries about how long drinking water sources would last. An eventual goal of the project is also to create another source of drinking water, but that may now be 10 to 15 years down the road with the slowdown in growth.

The former Venice Minerals site is where the county could one day locate a treatment plant to provide the new drinking water source. The conveyance system is expected to cost $6 million to build and officials expect construction to be completed by late 2015.

The county and the regional Southwest Florida Water Management District have already spent about $8.5 million on land acquisition and outside consultants. The addition to Kimley-Horn’s design contract will bring the firm’s total payment up to about $1.7 million.

Commissioners thanked staff for the explanation, in sharp contrast to the meeting in September, in which Commissioner Joe Barbetta said he had “lost faith” in the effort.

“I think this is showing a great deal more clarity,” Commissioner Jon Thaxton said on Wednesday.

<p><em>SARASOTA COUNTY</em> - An ambitious plan to improve the ecosystem in Dona Bay and eventually create a massive drinking water source appears to be taking shape at last.</p><p>Decades ago, water from Cow Pen Slough that once flowed into wetlands was diverted by farmers to empty into Dona Bay near Nokomis. The freshwater and nutrients in the water have hurt the fragile ecosystem in saltwater Dona Bay.</p><p>The new plan involves improving an aging dam structure that is in need of repair and adding to a system of conveyances. This would allow some of the Cow Pen Slough water to flow into the surrounding land and into old borrow pits from mining days.</p><p>More water will be diverted through a pipe to the large former Venice Minerals pit, where it will be treated to reduce pollution. Up to 10,000 pounds of nitrogen and phosphorus could be removed from the water each year using this approach, officials said.</p><p>The plans drew withering criticism from county commissioners in September, who said they were confused about how the project's goals would be accomplished.</p><p>On Wednesday, county staff's presentation was more easily digestible for commissioners, who unanimously approved an additional $600,000 to the engineering firm Kimley-Horn and Associates for design work.</p><p>The plan to fix the problem first came about in 2007, when the building boom led to worries about how long drinking water sources would last. An eventual goal of the project is also to create another source of drinking water, but that may now be 10 to 15 years down the road with the slowdown in growth.</p><p>The former Venice Minerals site is where the county could one day locate a treatment plant to provide the new drinking water source. The conveyance system is expected to cost $6 million to build and officials expect construction to be completed by late 2015.</p><p>The county and the regional Southwest Florida Water Management District have already spent about $8.5 million on land acquisition and outside consultants. The addition to Kimley-Horn's design contract will bring the firm's total payment up to about $1.7 million.</p><p>Commissioners thanked staff for the explanation, in sharp contrast to the meeting in September, in which Commissioner Joe Barbetta said he had “lost faith” in the effort.</p><p>“I think this is showing a great deal more clarity,” Commissioner Jon Thaxton said on Wednesday.</p>